First Presbyterian Church
Order of Worship

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Sunday Worship
July 27, 2025 - 10 a.m. EDT

Prelude - I Love to Tell the Story (arr. Emma Lou Diemer)

Ringing of the Church Bell

Invitation to Worship
Wallace Bubar

One: Come, you have a story to tell —

All: Of being lost, and then being found. Of being in bondage, and having been freed. Of being broken, and receiving the gift of wholeness.

One: Come, you have a story to tell —

All: Of being alone, and encountering community. Of being in exile, and discovering the way back home. Of being in the wilderness, and finding manna along the way.

One: Come, you have a story to tell —

All: We bring our stories, we bring our whole selves, to praise the God who has reached out to us and made us a part of God’s Story.

Hymn 610 - O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my god and King,
The triumphs of God’s grace.

The name of Jesus charms our fears,
And bids our sorrows cease,
Sings music in the sinner’s ears
Brings life and health and peace.

Christ speaks and listening to his voice
New life the dead receive,
The mournful waken to rejoice;
The poor in heart believe.

My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of thy name.

To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever given
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

Prayer of the Day [unison]

Eternal Source of life, be with us this day as we seek to open ourselves to your love and your wholeness. Be with us as we set aside our everyday worries and concerns and concentrate on your grace and mercy. Create in us a new sense of meaning and purpose, in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Canticle 399 - God Welcomes All

God welcomes all,
Strangers and friends;
God’s love is strong,
And it never ends.

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements

Scripture Reading - Joshua 4:1-7
J. David Rinehart, liturgist

Word with Children
Jenni Whitford

Reflection - “Historical Marker Ahead”

Testimony & Storytelling

Kevin Holtsberry

Hymn 462 - I Love to Tell the Story (v.1)

I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
Of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else could do.

I love to tell the story;
’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love.

Sue Cherney

Hymn 462 - I Love to Tell the Story (v.2)

I love to tell the story;
’Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story;
’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love.

Gregg Gaber

Hymn 462 - I Love to Tell the Story (v.3)

I love to tell the story,
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story;
’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer [unison]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offering

Offertory - All the Way My Savior Leads Me (arr. Fred Bock)

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Doxology 606 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn 837 - What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

O How sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Benediction

Postlude - O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (arr. Michael Burkhardt)
Philip Everingham

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